68 MR. A. ANDERSON ON THE [Jan. 1 ft, 



2. Notes on the Raptorial Birds of India. 

 By A. Anderson, F.Z.S.— Part II * 



[Eeceived January 4, 1872.] 



29. Aquila fulvescens, Gray. (The Indian Tawny Eagle.) 



Met with everywhere. In some places almost abundant, as well 

 as a nuisance, from the clanging noise it makes when depriving 

 other birds of their food. The habits of this Eagle have been well 

 described by Jerdon ; and the bird is probably too well known to re- 

 quire special notice. I examined several nests during the season, 

 and invariably found only two eggs. They vary considerably in size, 

 shape, and coloration ; but on the whole they are poorly marked. 

 January and February is the most general time for this Eagle to lay ; 

 but I came across some nests early in November. These birds had 

 evidently built too soon, and used to sit mopingly close to their nest 

 or on a neighbouring tree, as if watching their homestead, patiently 

 waiting their appointed time. 



The Wokab is partial to certaiu trees for the site of its nest ; but 

 I have found its predilection in this respect to be regulated by the 

 abundance or scarcity of the trees in question. In the Cawnpore 

 district they almost invariably build on solitary peepul trees (Ficus 

 religiosa). In the Futtehgurh and Mynpoory districts, where the 

 seesso (Dalbergia seesoo) grows to so gigantic a size, the preference is 

 apparently given to them. Higher up the Doab, where the country 

 assumes somewhat of a desert character, I found them building on 

 thorny acacias. On one occasion I found a nest on a babool, which 

 was certainly not more than fifteen feet high — a mere apology for a 

 tree. 



In November, 1867, I got a pair of abnormally small eggs, with- 

 out the faintest indication of any colouring-matter (the contents of 

 an unusually small nest, which was situated at the very top of a 

 perpendicular branch of a mango), shooting one of the parent birds. 

 This tree was one of a straggling group, close to the Martiniere 

 College at Lucknow ; and, in proof of the boldness of this Eagle, I 

 may mention that an enormous camp was formed under these very 

 trees, awaiting the triumphal entry of the Viceroy into the capital 

 of Oudh. I have since thought that this nest belonged rightfully 

 either to Milvus govinda or to Haliastur indus, both of which species 

 were very abundant there. When encamped at the pretty little 

 station of Mynpoory in January last, a pair of Wokabs became 

 excessively troublesome, carrying off every thing they could find, 

 and robbing the more legitimate camp- scavengers, Kites and Crows, 

 of every morsel they picked up. I was not long in finding their 

 nest, an enormous structure, on the topmost branches of a seesoo, 

 which was visible nearly a mile off, as at this season of the year the 

 tree was devoid of every green leaf. The nest contained two half- 

 grown eaglets, which were most tenderly nurtured by their parents, 

 * For Part I., spp P. Z. S. 1871. p. 675. 



